Glove with structural finger reinforcements

ABSTRACT

An assembly is provided for use in a sports glove for use in baseball or softball. The assembly includes finger extension members that align with a wearer&#39;s thumb and fingers when worn. The finger extension members are made of a lightweight material such as a polymer and include at least one lattice portion. By including the more lightweight finger extension members, a glove including the assembly may have a lower moment of inertia about the heel to allow a fielder to more easily and quickly move his or her glove during play.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/713,602 filed on Dec. 13, 2019, entitled “Glove withStructural Finger Reinforcements,” currently pending, claims priority toU.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/809,832, filed on Feb.25, 2019, entitled “Glove with Structural Finger Reinforcements,” theentire disclosures of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to sports equipment and, moreparticularly, to a glove for batted ball sports such as baseball orsoftball. The present invention is specifically directed to alightweight and structurally reinforced glove for baseball or softball.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional gloves for baseball or softball generally comprise a frontpanel forming the front wall of the glove and a back panel forming theback wall of the glove. The front and back panels are secured togetherat peripheral margins of the glove by various fastening means to form aglove shell having a top, bottom, and opposite sides. The fasteningmeans may include, but are not limited to, stitching, cords, clasps,rivets, and glue. The glove shell generally defines one inner thumbstall and four inner finger stalls. The glove includes a thumb and fourfingers that form the thumb and the finger stalls, respectively. Thefingers are conventionally joined by cross-bracing and form a conjoinedfinger region. The cross-bracing may include, but is not limited to,cords and the like. Further, the cords of any fastening means orcross-bracing are preferably and commonly made of leather orleather-like material. A web is located between and secured to the thumband fingers by a fastening means such as leather or a leather-likematerial.

Conventional gloves for baseball or softball may further comprise aliner. With respect to the glove shell, the liner comprises a palm linerpanel on the inside face of the front panel. The front panel and thepalm liner have lower edge margins generally in line with one another toform a heel of the glove extending between the opposite sides of theglove. The front panel has an outside face forming the front surface ofthe glove and an inside face. The outside face of the front panel has acentral portion forming a ball-catching pocket located above the heel ofthe glove and below the web and the fingers. The back panel has anoutside face enclosing the thumb stall and finger stalls. The lower edgeof the back panel defines an opening for receiving the wearer's hand andmay further comprise a sometimes adjustable strap or thong that extendsacross the opening. The front and back panels are preferably constructedof relatively thick, dense, and stiff material for structural integrityand shock absorbing purposes.

Gloves constructed in conventional fashion are heavy, have a high momentof inertia about the heel, and lack adequate structural reinforcements.Generally, conventionally constructed gloves are comprised entirely ormostly of leather and/or leather-like materials, which are generallyrelatively dense materials. Use of such dense material creates arelatively heavy glove, especially for gloves for catchers oroutfielders that comprise additional padding or lengths of materials.

Further, known gloves for baseball or softball comprise extra orsuperfluous material for purposes of meeting desired specifications anddimensions, and until now, there has been no lightweight substitutionfor such material that is capable of at least meeting the same desiredspecifications and dimensions athletes have come to know and appreciate.For example, the thumb and fingers of known gloves comprise denseleather or leather-like material, internal padding, structural support,fastening means, and cross-bracing, which adds to the overall weight ofthe glove.

When a wearer inserts his or her hand into a glove for baseball orsoftball, the wearer's fingers extend only partially into the thumbstall or finger stalls, and at least fifty percent (50%) of the thumb orfingers of conventional gloves for baseball or softball are designed forpurposes other than receiving the wearer's fingers. It is those portionsof thumb and fingers that comprise the extra or superfluous material,especially at the distal portions of the glove, which increases theglove's weight and limits the ease of use of such gloves. Additionally,gloves constructed for baseball or softball for professional-levelcompetition generally may include even more leather or leather-likematerials to provide additional length, padding, and structural support,including at the distal portions of glove.

Traditionally, the internal padding and structural support comprise thesame or similar material or materials that comprise the glove generallythat is often formed, rolled, and compressed to achieve the desiredresult. The internal padding and structural support may comprisecompressed wool or polyethylene. Such additional material furtherincreases the glove's weight and moment of inertia about the heel, andlimits the ease of use of such gloves.

Therefore, a need exists for a lightweight glove with low moment ofinertia about the heel to optimize utility of the glove and use lessmaterial as compared to known gloves that have long been used in sport.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a lightweight glove for baseball orsoftball that generally comprises lightweight structural fingerreinforcements. The reduced overall weight of the glove is reduced bythe lightweight structural finger reinforcements. The glove with reducedweight thus provides superior ease of use, as well as other advantages.In particular, the reduction of weight at the distal portions of theglove—for example, at the thumb and fingers of the glove and the tipsthereof—has the further benefit of reducing the glove's moment ofinertia about the heel. A reduced moment of inertia about the heelprovides further ease of use, as well as other advantages.

In general, the finger reinforcements or extensions are designed toreplace the dense, extra, and/or superfluous materials generallycomprising known gloves. Further, the finger reinforcements orextensions may be separate or integrated and preformed. The fingerextensions may be customizable with respect to size, stiffness, and thelike. That way, an individual athlete may have a glove that iscustomized to his or her preferences and/or style of play.

The objects of this invention are as follows: (i) to provide alightweight glove, (ii) to provide a glove with a low moment of inertiaabout the heel, (iii) to provide improved structural reinforcements forgloves, and (iv) to provide a glove that utilizes less material comparedto known gloves. Other advantages and objects of the invention willbecome apparent from the following description with reference to theaccompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the various embodiments of the presentinvention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective representation of a glove inner liner includinga thumb finger extension member and four finger extension members,constructed according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a first finger extension member ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the first finger extension member of FIG.2.

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the first finger extension member ofFIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the first finger extension memberof FIGS. 2-4.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a thumb pad member of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the thumb pad member of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the thumb pad member of FIGS. 6and 7.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a thumb extension member of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a second finger extension member of FIG.1.

FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the second finger extension member ofFIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a first perspective view of a glove constructed according tothe teachings hereof.

FIG. 13 is a second perspective view of the glove of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a third perspective view of the glove of FIGS. 12 and 13.

While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way ofexample in the drawing and will herein be described in detail. It shouldbe understood, however, that the drawings and detailed descriptionpresented herein are not intended to limit the disclosure to theparticular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention isto cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawingfigures, in which like reference numerals refer to like partsthroughout. For purposes of clarity in illustrating the characteristicsof the present invention, proportional relationships of the elementshave not necessarily been maintained in the drawing figures. It will beunderstood that any dimensions included in the figures are simplyprovided as examples and dimensions other than those provided thereinare also within the scope of the invention.

The description of the invention references specific embodiments inwhich the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended todescribe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable thoseskilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can beutilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of thepresent invention. The present invention is defined by the appendedclaims and the description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limitingsense and shall not limit the scope of equivalents to which such claimsare entitled.

One objective of the present invention is to provide a glove forbaseball or softball with (i) a reduced weight, (ii) a low moment ofinertia about the heel, (iii) improved structural reinforcements, and(iv) less materials compared to known gloves. Further, another objectiveof the present invention is to provide a glove for baseball or softballthat is an improvement over known gloves for baseball or softball.

The present invention is directed to a glove for baseball or softballthat is designed to be lightweight and generally comprises flexibleand/or rigid structural finger extension members, wherein such extensionmembers comprise a lightweight material or combination of lightweightmaterials. Some of the finger extension members may be comprised of agenerally rigid, non-pliable, and strong structural material orcombination of materials with limited flexibility, including, but notlimited to, carbon fiber, polyurethane, and the like. Other fingerextension members may generally be flexible and as such be comprised ofa pliable material such as a rubber or flexible plastic.

The finger extension members may define a variable or non-uniformcross-section over the width or the length of each of the thumb orfingers of the glove. For example, in some embodiments, the material orcombination of materials may form a finger extension member with agenerally uniform composition and a variable or non-uniformcross-section over the width or the length of the subject thumb orfinger of the glove. However, it will be understood that in otherembodiments, the material or combination of materials may form a fingerextension member with a variable or non-uniform composition and avariable or non-uniform cross-section over the width or the length ofthe subject thumb or finger of the glove.

The finger extension members are designed as extensions to replace asignificant portion or majority of the dense, extra, and/or superfluousmaterials comprising the internal padding, structural support, fasteningmeans, and/or cross-bracing of the thumb stall, the finger stalls, thethumb, and the fingers of known gloves. The finger extension members aregenerally designed to coincide and generally define the perimeter of thethumb and fingers of the glove, including the lateral perimeter of thethumb or the fingers. Further, the finger extension member may extendsubstantially around the lateral perimeter of the thumb or the fingersof the glove, and may be designed to form the shape of the thumb or thefingers and hold any leather or leather-like material between theextension members to be generally taut. The finger extension members maybe generally designed to limit lateral, rotational, and otherorientations of movement of the thumb or the fingers.

Turning first to FIG. 1, an inner glove assembly 1 is illustrated thatincludes a number of finger extension members and a palm liner 5 towhich the finger extension members are attached. More particularly, theinner glove assembly 1 includes three finger extension members 10, athumb extension assembly 15, and a pinky finger extension member 20. Theassembly 15 and the extension members 10, 20 may be attached to the palmliner 5 in a variety of manners including, but not limited to, beingsewn, stitched, glued, riveted, or attached (e.g., by hook and loopfastener systems) to the palm liner 5. In FIG. 1, a finger extensionmember 10A associated with a wearer's ring finger, a finger extensionmember 10B associated with a wearer's middle finger, and a fingerextension member 10C associated with a wearer's index finger are allillustrated. As set forth below, the finger extension members 10 arecustomizable and tunable to a wearer's preference and as such areinterchangeable to a certain degree.

In use, the inner glove assembly 1 including the palm liner 5 may beassembled into a glove such as those known in the art and describedherein so as to form a ball glove that may be used for baseball orsoftball. In such a glove (not illustrated), while the glove assembly 1itself may be made of materials such as plastic, rubber, etc., the glovemay be made of a conventional material such as leather so that theexterior of the glove may perform in a manner substantially similar tothat which players have grown accustomed to. In alternative embodiments,the glove may be made of a synthetic polymer or other foreseeable orknown material.

Turning to FIGS. 2-5, the finger extension member 10A of FIG. 1 isillustrated in greater detail. The finger extension member 10A issubstantially similar to the other finger extension members 10B and 10Cin many ways. However, unlike the finger extension members 10B, 10C, thefinger extension member 10A includes an oval shaped protrusion 25 thatprojects outwardly from a front face 30 of the finger extension member10A. The protrusion 25 serves a number of purposes, including acting asan additional stiffener on the inner glove. In addition to the frontface 30, the finger extension member 10A includes a rear face 35. Whenattached to the palm liner 5 and in use, the front face 30 preferablyfaces away from a wearer and toward a ball to be caught whereas the rearface 35 faces a wearer when the glove is in use. However, in alternativeembodiments, and as finger extension members 10B and 10C are shown, thefinger extension member 10A could be flipped to face the otherdirection. The finger extension member 10A also includes each of anupper portion 40 and a lower portion 45.

Notably, the finger extension member 10A near its upper end 40 isgenerally comprised of a lattice structure 50. The lattice structure 50penetrates all the way through the thickness of the finger extensionmember 10A and thus it is visible on each of its front face 30 and itsrear face 35. The lattice structure 50 may be formed as a regular orirregular geometrical arrangement of polymer, including strands ofpolymer, over the finger extension member 10A or a portion thereof. Thelattice structure 50 may be comprised of a plurality of slots 55 thatmay take on a nearly limitless number of shapes and sizes. In theillustrated embodiment, the slots 55 include some slots 55 that aresubstantially horizontal, some that are angular, and some which aresmaller that appear more closely to holes or apertures 60. In theillustration, only the lattice structure 50 that is located on the frontface 30 and the rear face 35 of the finger extension member 10C isillustrated. However, multiple layers of lattice structure 50 may belocated between the front face 30 and the rear face 35.

In a preferred embodiment, the lattice structure 50 includes threelayers, though in alternative embodiments, more or fewer latticestructures 50 may be provided. Because the lattice structure 50 includesthe slots 55 and the holes 60, less material may be used in creating thefinger extension members 10A. Less material being used to create thefinger extension members 10A preferably reduces the overall weight ofeach finger extension member 10A thus reducing the overall weight of theassembly 1 that is provided and illustrated in FIG. 1, and a glove whenthe assembly 1 is integrated into a glove. The finger extension member10A may be manufactured using a plurality of methods. However, in orderto create a lattice structure such as the lattice structure 50, additivemanufacturing such as 3D printing may be necessary.

A thickness 65 of the finger extension member 10A preferably decreasesfrom the upper end 40 to the lower end 45 in a tapered manner. Thereduction of thickness 65 toward the lower end 45 of the fingerextension member 10A reduces the overall weight of the finger extensionmember 10A and thus the assembly 1 and a glove. It also allows a wearerto better move his or her fingers when the glove is in use since thereis less thickness to affect his or her ability to do so near the lowerend 45 of the finger extension member 10A.

It should be noted that the lattice structure 50 of the finger extensionmember 10A may be made from a polymer material as a specifically tunedlattice structure. The lattice structure and its cell and strut size maybe varied so as to increase or decrease flexibility and stiffness inparticular areas of a finger extension member. The lattice structuresuch as a lattice structure 50 may be customizable and/or tunable tomeet the performance expectations of any given athlete. Similarly, whilethe finger extension member 10A is formed as a flexible rubber-likepolymer, if a user desired more stiffness in the finger extension member10A (or the finger extension members 10B, 10C), a stiffer material suchas a plastic polymer may be used in place of the rubber-like polymer.While many stiffness measures may suffice, preferably the materials mayhave a stiffness-to-weight ratio near 4:1. The thumb assembly 15 and thepinky finger assembly 20 may make use of such a stiffer material.

On each of the front face 30 and the rear face 35 of the fingerextension member 10C, the lattice structure 50 narrows as it approachesthe lower portion 45 of the finger extension member 10C. The narrowingprovides margin portions 67 that do not include the lattice structure50. The absence of the lattice structure 50 at the margin portions 67preferably facilitates the finger extension member 10C (or 10A or 10B)being sewn to the palm liner 5, at least in one embodiment.

Turning to FIGS. 6-8, a thumb pad member 70 is illustrated that makes uppart of the thumb extension assembly 15. The thumb pad member 70includes each of a proximal end 75 and a distal end 80. The thumb padmember 70 further includes each of a front face 85 and a rear face 90.When the thumb pad member 70 is integrated into the assembly 1 as shownin FIG. 1, the thumb pad member 70 is preferably positioned such thatits proximal end 75 is located near the thumb of a wearer, and thedistal end 80 of the thumb pad member 70 is near the pinky finger of awearer, and thus the pinky extension member 20. The thumb pad member 70is preferably designed to substantially align with the lower portion ofa wearer's palm. The thumb pad member 70 may be made of a variety ofmaterials, though in alternative embodiments it is constructed of arubber-like polymer. As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the front face 85of the thumb pad member 70 is substantially smooth and flat, though inalternative embodiments, it may include some texture.

Near the proximal end 75 of the thumb pad member 70, a step down portion90 is preferably provided that is thinner than the remainder of thethumb pad member 70. At the step down portion 90, a protrusion member 95may also be provided that projects outwardly from the step down portion.As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the protrusion 95 includes a pluralityof apertures 100 that are triangular in shape to form a latticestructure 105. The lattice structure 105 like the lattice structure 50may take on a nearly limitless number of shapes and structures. Thelattice structure 105 may further aid in reducing the overall weight ofthe thumb pad member 70 and thus the overall weight of the assembly 1and a glove in which the assembly 1 is installed. The protrusion 95 ispreferably of a size and shape that may be able to retain a thumbextension member (not illustrated in FIGS. 6-8, but described andillustrated in FIG. 9 herein below).

At the rear face 90 of the thumb pad member 70 illustrated in FIG. 8, aplurality of recessed slots 110 may be provided that extend toward thefront face 85 of the thumb pad member 70. The recessed slots 110 helpallow the thumb pad member 70 to flex. It is important that the thumbpad member 70 be able to flex because when a glove that includes theassembly 1 is used, a user may close and open his or her hand in orderto catch a ball. When he or she does so, inevitably the lower portion ofhis or her palm (not illustrated) similarly flexes as it opens andcloses. Thus, some degree of flexibility may be necessary for the thumbpad member 70. The addition of the recessed slots 110 may help tofacilitate this opening and closing.

As shown in FIG. 8, the rear face 90 of the thumb pad member 70 may alsoinclude a lattice structure 115. The lattice structure 115 includes aplurality of triangular shaped holes or apertures 120. As was the casefor the lattice structures 50, 105, the lattice structure 115 may takeon a nearly limitless configuration. Moreover, the lattice structure 115may be customizable and/or tunable for particular athletes so that thethumb pad member 70 and thus the glove may function in a manner thataligns with his or her performance standards. At the proximal end 75 ofthe thumb pad member 70, the thumb pad member 70 is preferably providedwith a curvilinear edge portion 125. The edge portion 125 is preferablyof such a curvilinear shape that it may complement an end portion of athumb extension member 130, which is illustrated in FIG. 9.

Together, the thumb pad member 70 and the thumb extension member 130make up the thumb assembly 15. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the thumbextension member 130 includes each of a proximal end portion 135 and adistal end portion 140. At the proximal end portion 135, the thumbextension member 130 may include a tab member 145 that extendstherefrom. The tab member 145 preferably includes an aperture 150 thatextends through the tab member 145. The aperture 150 is preferably of asize and shape that is able to receive and retain the protrusion 95 fromthe thumb pad member 70 when they are aligned with one another. Theengagement between the protrusion 95 and the aperture 150 is furthersolidified by the edge portion 125 of the thumb pad member 70 matingwith an edge portion 155 at the proximal end 135 of the thumb extensionmember 130. The curve of the end portion 155 preferably substantiallymatches the curved end portion 125 of the thumb pad member 70. As setforth above, when attached to one another, the thumb pad member 70 andthe thumb extension member 130 together form the thumb assembly 15 ofFIG. 1.

The thumb extension member 130, like the extension members 10 and therear face 90 of the thumb pad member 70, is generally made up of alattice structure 160. The lattice structure 160 has a similar patternto the lattice structure 70 of the finger extension member 10A. In apreferred embodiment, both sides of the thumb extension member 130include the lattice structure 160 and slots 165 and apertures 170 thatmake up the lattice structure 160. In a preferred embodiment, there arethree layers of the lattice structure 160 within the thumb extensionmember 130. In some embodiments, more or fewer layers may be provided,and the lattice structure 160 may take on a limitless number ofconfigurations. The configuration and the size and shape of the latticestructure 160 may also be customizable or tunable to further conform toweight, size, or other preferences of a wearer.

Unlike the finger extension member 10A, the thumb extension member 130is preferably comprised of a stiffer polymer that more closely resemblesa plastic. This is because players generally prefer a stiffer glovewhere baseballs or softballs strike the location of the thumb extensionmember 130. The presence of the lattice structure 160 on the thumbextension member 130 may reduce the glove's overall weight and thus itsmoment of inertia about the palm of the glove. Near the distal end 140of the thumb extension member 130, two circular apertures 175 areprovided. The circular apertures 175 may be used when assembling a gloveto thread a leather or leather-like material therethrough to assemble aglove.

FIG. 10 illustrates a front face 180 of the pinky finger extensionmember 20, and FIG. 11 illustrates a rear face 185 of the pinky fingerextension member 20. As provided in each of FIGS. 10 and 11, the frontface 180 and the rear face 185 of the pinky finger extension member 20includes a lattice structure 190. Like other lattice structuresdescribed throughout the specification, the lattice structure 190includes each of slots 195 and apertures 200. The lattice structure 190may vary greatly in alternative embodiments and may include a differentarrangement than that illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. Furthermore, thelattice structure 190 may be customizable and/or tunable to meetperformance expectations of a wearer. Like other elements of theassembly 1, the pinky finger extension member 20 may include threelayers of lattice structure 190 in a preferred embodiment. However, inalternative embodiments, more or fewer layers of lattice structure 190may be provided. At a distal end portion 205 of the pinky extensionmember, two holes or apertures 210 may be provided. The holes orapertures 210 may be substantially similar to the holes or apertures 175of the thumb extension member 130. A leather or leather-like lace may bethreaded through the holes or apertures 210 to attach the pinky fingerextension member 20 to the finger extension member 10A or to anotherlocation on a glove. Like the thumb extension member 130, the pinkyextension member 20 is preferably made of a stiffer polymer that hasplastic-like qualities. However, in alternative embodiments, the pinkyextension member 20 may have more flexibility.

In alternative embodiments, the finger extension members 10, 20 and thethumb assembly 15 may be separate or integrated and attach to the bodyat various locations, including internal or external to the glove shell,and on a front panel, back panel, or any peripheral margins of a glove.

Although the present invention is discussed and depicted here asparticular embodiments, it will be understood that the present inventioncan apply to all gloves for baseball or softball, including, but notlimited to, gloves or mitts for pitchers, catchers, first basemen,infielders, outfielders, and the like.

It should be noted that the overall performance of gloves that includethe finger extension members 10, 20 and/or the thumb assembly 15 performwell. More particularly, there is low fatigue on the finger extensionmembers 10, 20 and/or the thumb assembly 15. Furthermore, the specificstrength or strength-to-weight ratio may even improve with the latticedfinger extension members 10, 20 and/or thumb assembly 15.

Even moreover, any finger extension member itself may replace the fingerof a glove and actually comprise an external portion of the gloveitself, rather than being sewn to the liner. In that case, the size andscale of the finger extension members may vary depending on the type ofglove being used, and for which position on the field.

It should also be noted that other gloves that incorporate a latticeportion into its structure are envisioned. More particularly, all orpart of a glove's shell, wrist strap, inner palm, connections betweenfingers including pockets and webbing, etc. may include a latticeportion, polymer otherwise. Including such lattice portions maygenerally contribute to reducing the weight of a glove and thus becustomizable or tunable to meet a particular player's performancestandards.

For example, in FIGS. 12-14, a glove 215 is illustrated that is madeentirely of a lattice structure. The glove 215 is preferably entirelymanufactured using 3D printing technology. More particularly, each of aglove back 220, fingers 225, and even connecting lacing 230 of the glove215 may be made from a polymer lattice structure. This allows thestructure of the glove 215 to be optimizable for strength and weight, byvarying the lattice density in specific areas. For example, the glovepalm may be made more flexible by decreasing lattice density alongdesired closure lines, while the fingers 225 may be made stiffer byincreasing lattice density. Such customization could varyfinger-by-finger, or even on a finer scale. This also allows the abilityfor true customization since each part can be unique without the use ofspecific patterns. Another benefit is air flow and breathability throughthe lattice structure that forms the glove 215.

The lattice structure that makes up the glove 215 in FIGS. 12-14 mayvary depending on the preference of a wearer or manufacturer.Furthermore, it may include more or fewer layers of lattice structure.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the various embodiments of thepresent invention are well adapted to attain all the objectives andadvantages hereinabove set forth together with still other advantageswhich are obvious and which are inherent to the present structures. Itwill be understood that certain features and sub-combinations of thepresent embodiments are of utility and may be employed without referenceto other features and sub-combinations. Since many possible embodimentsof the present invention may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the present invention, it is also to be understood that alldisclosures herein set forth or illustrated in the accompanying drawingsare to be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. The variousconstructions described above and illustrated in the drawings arepresented by way of example only and are not intended to limit theconcepts, principles and scope of the present invention.

Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applicationsof the present invention will, however, become apparent to those skilledin the art after considering the specification and the accompanyingdrawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses andapplications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of theinvention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limitedonly by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sports glove, the sports glove comprising: atleast one of a glove back, one or more fingers, and connecting lacing;and wherein at least one of the glove back, one or more fingers, andconnecting lacing includes a lattice portion.
 2. The sports glove ofclaim 1, wherein at least two of the glove back, one or more fingers,and connecting lacing includes a lattice portion.
 3. The sports glove ofclaim 1, wherein each of the glove back, one or more fingers, andconnecting lacing includes a lattice portion.
 4. The sports glove ofclaim 1, wherein the sports glove is manufactured using 3D printingtechnology.
 5. The sports glove of claim 1, wherein the lattice portionis customizable.
 6. A sports glove, the sports glove comprising: atleast one 3-D printed lattice portion, the at least one 3-D printedlattice portion being customizable.
 7. The sports glove of claim 6,wherein the sports glove includes a glove back that includes the atleast one 3-D printed lattice portion.
 8. The sports glove of claim 6,wherein the sports glove includes one or more fingers that include theat least one 3-D printed lattice portion.
 9. The sports glove of claim6, wherein the sports glove includes connecting lacing that includes theat least one 3-D printed lattice portion.
 10. The sports glove of claim6, wherein the sports glove includes a glove back, one or more fingers,and connecting lacing, each including an at least one 3-D printedlattice portion.